Indictment #1 U.S. v. Gutierrez, et al. Barton, who was arrested earlier, faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted. Mexican suppliers are especially responsible for most heroin and methamphetamine production, while cocaine is more often made in Colombia than transported to the U.S. via Mexican criminal organizations. ", Chavez added: "I see a lot of lives saved when we can stack up kilograms of drugs like this on a table. It is between 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. During a search of the residence where Iris Amador-Garcia was living with her brother and co-conspirator, Mario Amador-Garcia, 31, and co-conspirator, Bayron Eberto . Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody. The seizure took place on October 8, but the DEA is only now sharing the details. Packages containing 114 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge. LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas There was a major methamphetamine bust in Liberty County overnight, and the sheriff's office there believes it might be the biggest one ever in the county's history . All complaints and concerns are fully investigated by corporate compliance and corrective actions are implemented based on substantiated allegations. Volusia County Sheriff's Office (WKMG 2021) VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Sixteen people were arrested over a couple of days in a series of drug busts that resulted in fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine . Drug Seizure Statistics FY2023. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. First published on November 11, 2021 / 11:37 AM. The amount of heroin seized by DEA Field Divisions increased by 30% from 2018 to 2019, with the largest amounts of heroin seized in Texas, California, Arizona, and New York. To illustrate the impact of drug trafficking on the opioid epidemic and drug addiction in the U.S., were sharing the biggest drug busts in Texas this year. Authorities have seized nearly 200 pounds of drugs valued at more than $1.6 million following three separate searches at the Laredo Port of Entry in Texas. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas. Authorities arrested Oliphint yesterday. February 26 . By Tamlyn Cochran. The White House did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment on the matter. During this investigation authorities seized approximately four kilograms of cocaine, approximately seven kilograms of methamphetaine and a half a dozen firearms. Newly endangered milkweed could stop Texas border Barton was previously arrested. Pompano Beach, FL 33062. Your IP: This federal grand jury indictment charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan; The DEA said more than 1,930 pounds of meth were found stuffed into 663 packages in a hidden compartment of an 18-wheeler off Interstate 35 in Denton County. Bobby Quinton Gentile, age 43 of Holland; Because Texas is on the Mexican border, drug trafficking in the state is, unfortunately, very common. Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody prior to yesterday. "I see a lot of lives saved when we can stack up kilograms of drugs like this on a table," Chavez said. One additional defendant was arrested today with 2 pounds of methamphetamine, three rifles, and a shotgun. As of 15 December 2021 the Drug Seizures dashboard now includes seizures of all drug types. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. Defendant Healer engaged in an armed stand-off with law enforcement today. Guthrie is accused of being in possession of a Colt .45 caliber handgun on May 21, 2020. The home was being used as a conversion lab where meth is turned into the raw, liquid form, making it more difficult for agents to detect. Thirteen of the defendants were arrested over the past two days. Lock AUSTIN (KXAN) More than 20 people from in and around Austin were arrested Thursday on federal drug trafficking charges, according to the Department of Justice. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland . Ryan Howard, spokesman for DPS. The indictment alleges that on May 21, 2020, Guthrie was in possession of a Colt .45 caliber handgun. The fifth federal indictment charges 31-year-old Annie Rose Lewis of Temple with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The second operation began with the investigation of a stolen vehicle parked outside a business. Marshals returned to Brady on Tuesday morning in an attempt to stop the gigantic drug ring that is supplying narcotics across Texas according to sources with the federal court system. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Fifteen local residents --Jose Francisco Gutierrez, 33 of Killeen; Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, 30 of Nolanville; Bobby Quinton Gentile, 43 of Holland; Ashley Nicole Sutton, 31 of Belton; Wesley Warrick, 50 of Cameron; Carlos Avila, 38 of Buckholts; Joe David Beck, 50 of Temple; Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, 33 of Belton; Aleah Freitag, 29 of Rockdale; Kimberly Lee, 26 of Gatesville; Colton Lane Lewis, 30 of Temple; Angela Loy, 32 of Temple; Frank Medina, Jr, 43 of Temple; Timothy Neal Nyquist, 36 of Temple; and Trisha Ann Sanchez, 40 of Temple--are named in indictments alleging they conspired since January 2020 to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas.. This federal grand jury indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with possession with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. Frank Medina Jr, age 43 of Temple; The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said its Dallas division made the biggest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas history after finding the drugs in a hidden compartment of an 18-wheeler off Interstate 35 in Denton County. Drug and alcohol addiction is a nationwide epidemic, please reach out if you or a loved one is suffering. Our officers for the McLennan County Sheriffs Office, Waco PD, DPS and other agencies are out there working around the clock overtime to protect them and get these kinds of drugs off the streets, out of the hands of the bad guys, and lock up the perpetrators, said McNamara. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. If convicted, Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick face between 10 years and life in federal prison because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams. The remaining defendants face between five years and 40 years in federal prison upon conviction because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. The men are currently being held on $250,000 bonds each. Tulare County Sheriff's Office via AP, File. AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Eleven alleged drug traffickers have been arrested and charged in Amarillo, announced U.S. attorney for the . Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says a drug operation at the home in the 100 block of Trudell was first broken up a few weeks ago when Deputies were delivering a warrant. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. Screenshot from Bexar County Sheriff video. In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a . Authorities believe the drugs may have come from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Banyan Texas is a rehab center in Waelder that offers various levels of substance abuse treatment to help people who are suffering from drug addictions and want to recover their sobriety. WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL) A traffic stop by Texas Department of Public Safety lead to a major drug seizure last week near Amarillo. The amount of drugs seized was so large, a hazmat crew from the Houston Police Department were called in to assist.4, Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations conducted what they claimed to be the largest meth seizure in Houstons history. 24-year-old Jacob Winters is facing numerous drug charges to Cocaine, Meth, & Firearm Drug Bust in Dallas. In total, more than 1,930 pounds of meth stuffed into 663 packages were pulled from the vehicle. As Mayorkas denied the existence of a crisis, Mexican President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador blamed the new president for it, arguing that the expectations he set left migrants with the perception that they would be let into the US. The third federal indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. Copyright 2022 KWTX. This is a highly addictive drug that can lead to mental illness, increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and more. The haul was the largest meth bust in North Texas's history. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance with the arrests. We can help! Liberty County officials were asked to assist in a search warrant led by the DEA out of Houston to seize what they estimated to be $500,000 worth. 25 kilograms of meth seized in Cloverleaf area, Texas DPS says. While meth and cocaine are central nervous system (CNS) stimulants that increase activity in the brain, opioids like heroin reduce nerve activity in the brain, producing a euphoric and calming high. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News . The Mexican cartel is largely responsible for drugs like cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine in Texas and the rest of the United States. This federal grand jury indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Ashley Nicole Sutton, age 31 of Belton; Officials say after getting a search warrant some 393 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was found inside. (KWTX) - Federal agents swept through Central Texas on Thursday and Friday and arrested 15 area residents named in sealed drug trafficking and firearms indictments, the U.S. Attorney's Office . For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. A total of 50 people were arrested following one of the largest drug busts in south Texas in recent years, according to Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of . Drug Bust. The haul was so big that other agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Houston; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston; Harris County Constables Office Precinct 1; Harris County Constables Office Precinct 3; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Fire Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and the Houston Police Department participated in the operation.5. Otay Mesa CBP Officers Intercept Deadly Drugs Worth More Than $15 Million. The east lane of FM 2271 was closed for several hours, and authorities funneled traffic into the west lane of FM 2271 on both sides of the Lake Belton Dam. BATON ROUGE - On Saturday deputies shutdown a large drug operations near S . (210) 384-7257 Indictment #3 - U.S. v. Lori Oliphint. The FBI, Temple Police Department, Killeen Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted this investigation. Guthrie was arrested on Thursday, April 15, 2021. Today's takedown marks the latest major drug bust in the OAG's Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) Initiative, a law enforcement effort that brings together state and local law enforcement to target New York's growing and often violent heroin, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks. Posted on March 2, 2023 by Constitutional Nobody. The distribution of drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth, and fentanyl into the state is an ongoing problem, and it seems like authorities are constantly the biggest drug busts in Texas. Trisha Ann Sanchez, age 40 of Temple. The indictments were unsealed Friday, April 16, 2021, in Waco. Thirteen people were arrested Thursday and more than $1 million were seized in a major drug bust that stretched from Athens to Atlanta. Amid an 800 percent surge in seizures of fentanyl statewide due to porous borders, Texas will create a new criminal offense for the manufacture or delivery of the drug, the governor has announced . usatxw.mediainquiry@usdoj.gov. The 34-year-old singer was found dead in his bathtub in November 2022. One operation began with a street level narcotics seizure. Law enforcement officers arrested Abel Chavez, Allen Roberts, and Marvin Keith on drug charges after the months-long operation resulted in the seizure of about 38.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 ounces of marijuana, nearly $18,000 in suspected drug proceeds, a Glock pistol, and an AR-15 style weapon, the sheriff said. Below is a list of recent Texas drug busts that have seized record amounts of drugs. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) A big drug bust on San Antonio's North side. The most recent tally shows they found 6,000 pounds of meth, increasing the street value to about $1 million. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan, Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen, Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, age 30 of Nolanville, Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton. She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. Stimulant abuse involving cocaine and meth has also remained high. The seizure totaled out to $3.4 million of meth. While officials would not confirm how many people were arrested, they did say they believe the narcotics are from a cartel. November 11, 2021 / 11:37 AM / CBS Texas NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) A variety of methamphetamine drugs, valued at some $16,000,000, was seized during several multi-agency North Texas drug busts . Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton; Oliphint, who was arrested Thursday, faces as much as 20 years in prison if convicted. If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison. But then they got word it had started again. That opens up large gaps of tens, or sometimes hundreds of miles, where the drug cartels have the ability to get fentanyl across the border.. Sign up and receive email updates on the latest news, events, and more! WACO, Texas (KWTX) - McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara is praising the work of his deputies and fellow law enforcement officers after an operation - hailed as the biggest meth bust in the history of the McLennan County Sheriffs Office - led to three arrests and the seizure of more than $500,000 in methamphetamine. If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The Waco Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Unit has been around for a few years here in McLennan County, and since their existence theyve been constantly working to remove drugs out of the area and remove gang members, and make the city and the county a little bit safer, so this just part of the operation they did, said Sgt. Chavez is charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance (penalty group 1) over 400 grams, a first-degree felony. The alleged leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fianc, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested October 28, 2021. This federal grand jury indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with possession with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. SAN ANTONIO - Three people are in custody and are expected to face federal charges following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 3. BRADY, TX - Nearly 30 people were arrested in Brady Friday morning during a drug trafficking sting operation led by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Sheriff Javier . While the problem began to emerge in 2020, during which the states Department of Public Safety seized 11 pounds of fentanyl, it exploded in the first four months of 2021, Abbott explained. Operation No Warning began in June 2020, according to FDLE . In January 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administrations Dallas division reported the largest methamphetamine and heroin seizure in the branchs history. Aware of some of the groups trafficking, law enforcement seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop on May 16, 2020. According to Eastland County Today, Tuesday at 1:30 am - Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Colby Jackson made a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Interstate 20. 5:18 PM on Jun 11, 2021 CDT. After the tractor was referred to a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, 43 packages containing 113.89 pounds of cocaine were found in the trailer. Another 44 pounds of meth were seized in a stop on April 2, 2021, and 83 pounds of methamphetamine and 20,000 fentanyl pills were seized in a traffic stop on September 28, 2021. . Federal agents arrest more than a dozen local residents named in drug trafficking and firearms indictments, Assistant district attorney from Williamson County suspended after DWI wreck in Hewitt, New non-profit coming to Bell County in fight against homelessness, Change was like night and day: Mother testifies in retrial of ex-Waco day care owner charged in childs overdose death, Impacts of four-day week on school support staff. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Lori Oliphint, 43, of Temple was named in an indictment charging possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Angela Loy, age 32 of Temple; In the home, law enforcement found five gallon-sized plastic bags filled with drugs, which were stashed in the master bedroom along with other smaller-sized plastic baggies of assorted colors. Agents at eight . LIKE 25 NEWS KXXV ON FACEBOOK FOR THE LATEST CENTRAL TEXAS STORIES. All Rights Reserved. Posted: Jun 21, 2021 / 04:36 PM MDT. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. We knew there was a possibility there would be quite a bit of dope there, but that is a huge quantity of methamphetamine, said McNamara. Aaron Carter's mother has released graphic photos from the scene of his death as a ploy to motivate law enforcement to investigate the incident further. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced the largest methamphetamine bust in North Texas history last week: 1,900 pounds in big grey bricks stowed in the false . DPS and HPD bust suspected drug lab in NW Houston . In Bastrop County, fewer than 10 people died from drug overdoses both in 2019 and 2021, according to state health figures. Nhan Thanh Vo, 38, was charged with one federal count of . The cause, the Republican governor said, is President Bidens border policies, which have caused a crisis for those in the region. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. Cory Joe Barton, 35, of Gatesville was named in a separate indictment charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine that alleges he possessed at least 500 grams of meth on Nov. 11, 2020. These smaller bags wouldve been used for drug distribution. Heroin is one of the many opioids that have contributed to the increasing rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. Published: May 5, 2021, 5:21 AM Updated: May 5, 2021, 6:28 AM Tags: Drug Bust , Crime , Liberty County LIBERTY, Texas - A tip led to the largest drug bust in Liberty County Tuesday, the Liberty . File photo showing packages of methamphetamine crystals. Later that evening, officers encountered a daily express consignment truck hauling a shipment of vinyl samples arriving from Mexico. Twenty Central Texans are facing federal drug trafficking and firearms charges stemming from five separate, but related, federal grand jury indictments. NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) A variety of methamphetamine drugs, valued at some $16,000,000, was seized during several multi-agency North Texas drug busts over the last two months. Authorities arrested Guthrie last night. The GBI said they seized more than 38 kilograms of methamphetamine worth about $530,000, marijuana, illicit pharmaceuticals, 11 firearms, 34 vehicles bought with money from drug proceeds, and . February 27, 2023. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division (SFD) Tacoma Resident Office (TRO) and Bremerton Police Department (BPD), with assistance from Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement (TNET); the Seattle, Puyallup, Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Bonney Lake, Tacoma, and Lakewood Police Departments; the Pierce County Sheriffs Office; Washington State Department of Corrections; Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET): Centralia and Chehalis Police Departments; Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET); and Washington State Patrol; Thurston Narcotics Team (TNT), Kitsap County Sheriffs Office, and Mason County Sheriffs Office; United States Postal Inspections Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) with support from Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas ( HIDTA). ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. FORT WORTH, Texas Tarrant County authorities have seized more than 1,400 pounds of liquid methamphetamine over the last five weeks, an estimated street value totaling $16 million, officials . Updated: Jan. 6, 2021 at 1:53 PM PST. More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. Let's put the drug bust into perspective. 27, law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, Brady . "[This] city-wide, cooperative law enforcement efforts to disrupt the methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking in our city was a tremendous success," Chavez said at the time. Lewis is accused of possessing a .380 caliber pistol on December 21, 2021. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Diggs and C. Andrew Colasurdo. Law enforcement officials say the drug investigations are ongoing. Greg Abbott said he planned to soon sign a bill that had passed the Texas Senate, as overdose cases on the synthetic opioid spike. According to this CBS News report, law enforcement officials busted the perps with nearly 375,000 marijuana plants, plus over 30,000 pounds of weed that was already harvested. 2023 Banyan Treatment Centers. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Press contact for the U.S. Attorneys Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov. "But we also want to send a clear signal to the bad guys that we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in this fight and we will continue to do that.". And while they were at it, they grabbed 65 vehicles, nearly 200 animals, and close to . Carlos Avila, age 38 of Buckholts; If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris will be prosecuting the cases. Traffic stop leads to major drug bust in Cibola County by: KRQE Staff. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Deputies confiscate $1.3 million worth of heroin and other narcotics in major drug bust. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Video above shows members of the Nueces County District Attorney's Criminal Interdiction unit looking for hidden drug cartel cash inside this vehicle. "It's a staggering amount to be seized at one time," Eduardo Chavez, the special agent in charge for DEA Dallas, told local TV station WFAA. Unfortunately, the impact of drug trafficking is reflected in the high rates of drug use in the U.S., specifically the opioid epidemic. The 2012 Freightliner tractor and shipment was also referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, where one package containing 17.85 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $357,145 was found. The DEA and our partners are focused on the most dangerous criminals in Washington. Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick would each face 10 years to life in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams, authorities said.